Stachys xanthantha var. gracilis C. Y. Wu & H. W. Li.

Herbs perennial. Rhizomes not enlarged. Stems erect or ascending, slender, few branched above middle, angles and nodes retrorse strigose, internodes much longer than leaves. Petiole 1-5 cm; leaf blade oblong-ovate, rarely triangular-ovate, (1.5-)4-10 × (1-)1.8-4 cm, adaxially sparsely strigose, densely so on margin, abaxially subglabrous, base shallowly cordate to broadly cuneate, margin regularly crenate-serrate, apex acute; midrib and veins abaxially sparsely strigose, conspicuous, whitish. Spikes 5-12 cm; verticillasters 6-flowered, lower 1 or 2 widely spaced; upper floral leaves sessile, lanceolate; bracteoles less than 1 mm, early deciduous. Pedicel ca. 1 mm. Calyx narrowly campanulate, ca. 8 mm, conspicuously 10-veined, veins hispid; teeth equal or posterior 3 larger, triangular, 2.5-3 mm, glandular puberulent, apical spine ca. 0.5 mm. Corolla yellow, ca. 1.5 cm; tube ca. 9 mm, saccate, apex sparsely puberulent; upper lip straight, oblong-ovate, ca. 5 × 3 mm, undulate; lower lip horizontally spreading, ca. 7 × 6 mm; middle lobe subcircular, ca. 5 mm wide; lateral lobes ovate, ca. 2 mm wide. Filaments apex slightly dilated, puberulent at middle. Ovary dark brown, glabrous. Fl. Jun-Jul.

* Waste areas; 1900-2300 m. Sichuan.